This may not be sufficient for a diary, but I do not know how else to get the word out. If you or anyone you know has purchased goods from Best Buy under their no interest for either 24 or 18 months program, then pay close attention to your monthly bills. Citibank just took over the Best Buy Credit Card book, and they have, in a time honored but dishonest practice, changed the due date to an earlier one each month. I had gotten an e-mail with the new date, the 13th, on October 11th. Having dealt with the changed due date scam before, I called Best Buy Credit Card number and spoke with a gentleman. They agreed that the date had been changed, that it was too late for me to change the automatic payment date, which was the 16th. He noted the file, and said that there would be no late fee. Today, 10/24, I got the Credit Card bill in the mail. Guess what? A $25. late fee.
But this is just the first layer. If you pay on time, and pay off the balance within the time provided, there is no interest. If you do not pay off within the time, or pay late then the 22% interest charge is added to the original balance. This is a lot of extra money.
So, I called the credit card people, and the nice woman agreed that the late fee would be reversed. In passing, she related that she had received over 60 phone calls about the late fees. Citibank, being what they are, will probably not cancel the late fees assessed those who do not call. And if there is a second late payment, they will probably back charge the interest. Twent-five dollars times how many accounts? Buyer beware, even the best buyers.